Conformity To Social Roles-Zimbardo Flashcards
(25 cards)
What was the aim of Zimbardo’s 1973 study on conformity to social roles?
To examine how readily people would conform to new roles in a simulated prison environment.
How many participants were involved in Zimbardo’s study?
Twenty-four psychologically stable and healthy males.
How were participants allocated to their roles in the study?
They were randomly allocated to either the role of Prisoner or Prison Guard.
What was the payment given to participants in Zimbardo’s study?
$15 a day.
What roles did the participants take on in Zimbardo’s study?
Prisoner and Prison Guard.
Describe the initial treatment of prisoners in Zimbardo’s study.
Prisoners were ‘arrested’ at home, strip searched, disinfected, and assigned a number.
What were the guards instructed to do in Zimbardo’s study?
To enforce the prison rules.
What uniform did the guards wear in the study?
Khaki uniform and reflective sunglasses.
What role did Zimbardo take on during the study?
Prison Superintendent.
How long was the study originally planned to last?
Two weeks.
What was a significant behavioral change observed in prisoners during the study?
They became increasingly submissive and accepting of their situation.
What mental health issues did some prisoners experience?
Depression and anxiety.
How many prisoners had to be released before day 6, and why?
Five prisoners due to extreme reactions such as crying and acute anxiety.
What did prisoners primarily discuss during the study?
Prison life and referred to each other by their prison number.
What behavioral change was noted in the guards during the study?
They became increasingly aggressive and sadistic.
What actions did guards take against prisoners?
They forced them to perform degrading tasks and woke them at night.
What did Zimbardo observe about his own behavior during the study?
He became an indifferent superintendent and did not stop psychological abuse.
Why was the study discontinued after 6 days?
Due to the psychological damage of the participants.
What type of conformity was observed in the participants of Zimbardo’s study?
Identification.
What situational factor was believed to influence the guards’ behavior?
The prison environment.
True or False: The participants showed sadistic tendencies before the study.
False.
Fill in the blank: The study showed how attitudes and behaviors are shaped by the _______.
[roles people play].
Ethical issues-Zimbardo
Very unethical as although told their usual rights may be suspended, in reality they were not disclosed to the full details of the study (such as being arrested at home) meaning deception was involved in the study
Psychological harm-many prisoners became emotionally distressed showing signs of anxiety and depression and some guards may have experienced guilt for behaving cruelty towards the prisoners or for ‘allowing’(by not intervening)the cruelty of guards to continue.
Right to withdraw was also taken away
Practical implications-strength
Led to formal recognition of ethical guidelines such as those by the APA(American psychological association) or BPS (British psychological society)
Studies now undergo an extensive review by an ethics committee before they commence to review whether the potential benefits are justifiable in the risk of psychological or physical harm to participants
Can sometimes lead to changes of study’s design or procedure (to make it more ethical)deny approval of the study altogether.
